Daniel Hall, Co-Founder of Australian Rock Band Taxiride, Dies at 48

Daniel Hall, a co-founder of Australian rock band Taxiride, died Friday (Nov. 13). He was 48.

The band announced his death in a social media post. “It is with the heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of our youngest brother in arms, Daniel James Hall,” the post read. “We shared some amazing experiences and his departure doesn’t seem real. Rest In Peace Dan.”

In a separate post on Hall’s page, his partner, Jess, said he died unexpectedly at home in the early hours of Friday. “I am completely devastated,” she wrote. “Your prayers and kind messages are appreciated.” No cause of death has been given.

Taxiride formed in Melbourne in the late 1990s after Tim Watson and Tim Wild began writing together and were joined by Jason Singh and Hall. Singh and Hall had spent years busking in the suburb of Camberwell and playing Melbourne venues. The four-piece signed to Warner after recording a demo at the city’s Secret Sound Studios.

The band’s 1999 debut album, Imaginate, reached No. 1 on the ARIA albums chart and was certified double platinum in Australia. Produced by Jack Joseph Puig, it was recorded at Ocean Way in Los Angeles and Secret Sound, and released in the U.S. on Warner/Sire.

Lead single “Get Set” reached No. 8 on the ARIA singles chart and No. 36 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart. It won breakthrough artist – single at the 1999 ARIA Awards and was also nominated for best pop release. Follow-up “Everywhere You Go” gave Taxiride a second ARIA top 15 hit, and Imaginate drew two further ARIA nominations the following year.

Hall left Taxiride in 2001 to pursue solo work and later formed the band Airway Lanes. He subsequently returned to Taxiride, which has continued performing in Australia and had dates scheduled at the time of his death.

Singh, his former bandmate, said he was “absolutely shattered.” Writing on social media, he said: “R.I.P. my brother Dan Hall. Forever in my soul. Thank you for being one of the hugest parts of my life brother. I’m totally heart broken.”

Singer-songwriter Peta Evans-Taylor, who performed with Hall, called him “one of the most talented songwriters, vocalists, and musicians I have ever heard,” adding: “Along with that you were a beautiful soul, and a wonderful friend.”

Source: Billboard